Zitehttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/7960/all
enFlipboard Acquires News Reader Zite, Fans Have Six Months to Mournhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/flipboard_acquires_news_reader_zite_fans_have_six_months_mourn
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/flipboard_acquires_zite_620px.png" alt="Flipboard acquires Zite" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>When it comes to news aggregation apps for iOS, there are no shortage of options -- but that number just got a little smaller with word that Zite will be rolled into perennial favorite Flipboard.<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.zite.com/2014/03/05/zite-is-flipping-out/" target="_blank">Zite announced Wednesday</a> that the CNN-owned news reader app has been acquired by Flipboard with the goal of creating "the most wonderful place to read news that has ever existed."<br /><br />Initially founded in 2005, Zite's arrival on the iPad often lived in the shadow of Flipboard, which tech media and users alike seemed to gravitate toward in much larger numbers. The so-called "Flipboard killer" never quite lived up to that nickname over the last three years, although it was a personal favorite of this particular journalist.<br /><br />We use the word "was" because Zite will ultimately be rolled into Flipboard, although users will have at least six months to continue enjoying the free app before such a change is made.<br /><br />"Our goal is to get the things that are great about Zite into Flipboard before shutting it down. We will also build a way for you to transition your data from Zite into Flipboard," promises Zite co-founder Mike Klaas. "Until then (for six months at a minimum), we will continue supporting Zite. Our users mean the world to us; after all, what Flipboard saw in us, you saw first. We hope you come with us and help us shape the future of news."<br /><br />It's an unfortunate turn of events for Zite fans, and yet another reminder that the apps and services we depend on every day may not always be around. Fingers crossed that the parties involved can find a way to make Flipboard work for Zite fans in the months ahead!<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/flipboard_acquires_news_reader_zite_fans_have_six_months_mourn#commentsNewsacquisitionsaggregationApp StoreCNNFlipboardfree appsnewsnews readersproduct transitionReadingwebsitesZiteiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 06 Mar 2014 14:30:05 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19496 at http://www.maclife.comPocket, Readability Debut Latest Read Later Service Enhancementshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/pocket_readability_debut_latest_read_later_service_enhancements
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/pocket_5.0_update_620px.png" alt="Pocket 5.0" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Fans of "read later" services Pocket and Readability will be overjoyed to hear that both services have made some big announcements this week, including the debut of a "smarter" Pocket for iPhone and iPad now available.<br /><br /><a href="http://getpocket.com/blog/2013/11/pocket-5-0-introducing-a-smarter-pocket/" target="_blank">Pocket announced Wednesday</a> that its free, universal iOS app has hit version 5.0 with the promise of a "smarter, more dynamic" read later service complete with streamlined navigation and search.<br /><br />Available now for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and coming November 20 to Android devices, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-formerly-read-it-later/id309601447?mt=8" target="_blank">Pocket 5.0</a> introduces Highlights, a feature which intelligently gathers already saved content and presents them in a new way, sorted by Best Of, Trending, Long Reads and Short Reads.<br /><br />But that's not all: Pocket now adapts to and learns from your specific interests, then uses Highlights as a way to discover content that might otherwise be forgotten. The update also offers more streamlined navigation, while Pocket Preferences uses the topics, sites and authors you save most in other apps such as Zite and Hack Later.<br /><br />Pocket isn't the only read later service in the spotlight this week -- <a href="http://blog.readability.com/2013/11/our-next-big-step/" target="_blank">Readability also had some of its own announcements Wednesday</a> with the debut of Recommendations, a new method for sharing articles with others and allowing them to do the same.<br /><br />Readability.com is also receiving a long overdue makeover which now utilizes the same Hoefler &amp; Frere-Jones fonts used on the company's mobile apps -- and yes, the existing iPhone and iPad app will soon be updated with Recommendations and "a boatload of other great things," but there's no word on exactly when that will arrive.<br /><br />In the meantime, the new Readability.com is rolling out gradually to existing users, but those eager to try Recommendations can send a tweet to be bumped to the top of the list; full details are on the website.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/pocket_readability_debut_latest_read_later_service_enhancements#commentsNewsApp Storeapp updatesdiscoveryPocketPreferencesread laterreadabilityrecommendationstrendingUniversal AppsZiteiPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 14 Nov 2013 18:43:35 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18616 at http://www.maclife.comThe 10 Hottest Apple News Stories, The Week of March 22http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/10_hottest_apple_news_stories_week_march_22
<!--paging_filter--><p>Sooo, what's this about Google Keep? Hahaha, now the company that's pulling your carefully curated Reader feeds wants you to give them some notes? Riiiight. Anywho, what's going on with Cupertino-related news and the tech constellation that surrounds them?</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/10_hottest_apple_news_stories_week_march_22#commentsGalleryNewsGoogle ReaderZiteSat, 23 Mar 2013 00:30:00 +0000J Keirn-Swanson16559 at http://www.maclife.comZite Manages to Create Its Own Basic Google Reader Service in 6 Hourshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/zite_manages_create_its_own_basic_google_reader_service_6_hours
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/zite_google_reader_feed_200px.png" alt="Google Reader feeds in Zite" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Tech fans the world over are mourning Google's decision to bury Reader this summer, and there are no shortage of contenders rising to take its place -- including Zite, who claims to have rebuilt Reader's core functionality in only six hours.<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.zite.com/2013/03/14/google-reader-is-dead-so-we-rebuilt-it-for-you-in-zite-in-six-hours/" target="_blank">Zite announced last week</a> that it had successfully managed to create a replacement for Google Reader "from start to finish, in six hours." Needless to say, the service is dependent upon the company's own app, but it holds promise that Google Reader may have a proper replacement when the search giant pulls the plug on July 1, 2013.<br /><br />"We at Zite were sad to hear about Google Reader’s impending demise," the company explains in a blog post. "Google Reader and Zite have always been complementary products: GR providing news from sources you’ve subscribed to manually and Zite giving you news algorithmically-targeted from the whole web."<br /><br />Created in only six hours, the basic feed reading capabilities rely heavily on Zite's backend, which was already compatible with Google Reader as a source for the company's "personalization algorithms" that are used for discovering what type of articles to serve up to readers.<br /><br />As cool as the implementation may be, there are a number of limitations -- for example, the Google Reader section only appears after restarting the app, and not every RSS feed is currently indexed by Zite. There's also no way to edit feeds, no folder support and no ongoing sync with Google Reader -- not that it's going to matter soon anyway.<br /><br />"We know there’s a lot more to do to improve this functionality within Zite, but we’re excited that we’ve been able to build something so quickly for disgruntled Google Reader users and look forward to adding more features," the developer concludes.<br /><br />Check it out by downloading the free Zite app and linking your Google Reader account to it from either the initial setup or the Explore section.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/zite_manages_create_its_own_basic_google_reader_service_6_hours#commentsNewsApp Storefree appsfunctionalityGoogle ReaderiOS developerslimitationsRSSRSS FeedssubscriptionsZiteiPadiPhoneiPodMon, 18 Mar 2013 13:12:08 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16505 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: iPad mini Refurbs, Apps on iPad, Retina MacBook SMC Updatehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_ipad_mini_refurbs_apps_ipad_retina_macbook_smc_update
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ipad_mini_pf_pb_ps_wht_ios6_print_200px.png" alt="iPad mini" width="200" height="151" class="graphic-right" />Wow! After 13 beta seeds and three and a half months in testing, Apple finally pulled the trigger on OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.3 on Thursday. What took so long? Hard to tell, but that wasn't all the company had on its plate overnight -- so read on and find out what you might have missed before packing it in for the weekend.</p><h3>Refurbished iPad mini Now Available from Apple</h3><p>In the market for an iPad mini but really wishing you could shave a few bucks off the price? For the first time ever, <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad/ipad_mini" target="_blank">refurbished models have landed in the Apple Online Store</a>, with a 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular for Verizon model in black and slate priced at $429 and a 32GB white model with Wi-Fi only for $389. As always, your mileage may vary -- Apple notes that there are limited supplies, but updated frequently, so grab 'em while they're hot, folks.</p><h3>PayPal Here, YouTube Capture Land on iPad</h3><p>Two notable iPhone apps have finally been ported to the iPad this week. First up is PayPal Here, eBay's attempt to thwart the rise of Square by allowing pretty much anyone to accept credit card payments. When coupled with the free card reader, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id607485062?mt=8" target="_blank">PayPal Here for iPad</a> (a separate app from the iPhone/iPod touch) is ready-made for small business owners looking for a slick point-of-sale with their tablet. Google-owned YouTube is also hit the iPad on Thursday with a <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/youtube-capture/id576941441?mt=8" target="_blank">version 1.2 update to its YouTube Capture app</a>, this time bringing native universal support for the iPad and iPad mini for shooting, enhancing and sharing videos with just about anyone. Both apps are available on the App Store now using the links above.</p><h3>Apple Releases MacBook Pro Retina SMC Update v1.1</h3><p>Still having drama with the graphics display on your 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display? Apple released the aptly-named <a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1559?viewlocale=en_US&amp;locale=en_US" target="_blank">MacBook Pro Retina SMC Update v1.1</a> on Thursday, which promises to resolve "a rare issue where users may experience slow frame rates when playing graphics-intensive games on the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display" as well as bug fixes for Power Nap, wake from sleep and fan control. Hey, we just installed that sucker and whadda ya know? Our fan is quieter already.</p><h3>Zite 2.2 Brings Big Improvements to Sharing, Image Gallery</h3><p>With the somber news that Google Reader is heading to that great RSS feed in the sky come July, it's more important than ever to have other options for collecting news on iOS devices. Zite has been one of our favorites since its debut, and <a href="http://blog.zite.com/2013/03/13/zite-2-2/" target="_blank">the company released an update to version 2.2 this week</a> which adds the ability to like and follow topics from Reader Mode, slideshow-style image galleries, native Facebook sharing and the ability to share or thumb pages after following a link. Not a fan of the preinstalled "Popular on Zite" and "Headline News" modules? You can now turn them off, simply by going to settings and toggling the ones you're not interested in. The free, universal app update is available now from the App Store.</p><h3>FxFactory Adds Panel Pop Transitions for FCPX</h3><p>Looking for unique transitions for your next Final Cut Pro X video? Noise Industries has just added <a href="http://www.noiseindustries.com/blog/announcements/final-cut-pro-x-panel-pop-transitions/" target="_blank">Stupid Raisins' Panel Pop Transitions</a> to FxFactory, a collection of 26 different transitions which break video into panels and animate them while revealing the incoming clip. Available for $49, Panel Pop Transitions comes preinstalled with the latest version of FxFactory, with a free trial version available to try out before purchasing.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_ipad_mini_refurbs_apps_ipad_retina_macbook_smc_update#commentsNewsFinal Cut Pro XFxFactoryiPad MiniMacBook Pro with Retina Displayovernight recapRefurbishedYouTubeZiteiPadMacFri, 15 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16490 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: OS X Betas Now via Mac App Store, Surface Flops, Zite 2.0http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_os_x_betas_now_mac_app_store_surface_flops_zite_20
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/zite_2.0_icon_200px.png" alt="Zite 2.0 icon" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Much has already been written about Microsoft's foray into tablets, and the news keeps getting worse for Redmond. This week, a brokerage firm in Boston is writing off the Surface with Windows RT as a loser for not one, not two but three reasons -- only one of which is shared by Apple's market-leading iPad. Can you guess the other two? If not, read on to find out what they are.</p><h3>Latest OS X 10.8.3 Beta Allows Updates via Mac App Store</h3><p><a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/12/05/developers-can-now-update-os-x-beta-builds-through-software-update" target="_blank">AppleInsider is reporting</a> that Apple's elves have delivered yet another beta of OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.3 to developers on Wednesday in the form of build 12D32. The latest build is mostly noteworthy because it allows developers to now download such patches through the Mac App Store's Updates tab, rather than having to grab it directly from Cupertino's developer website. That means that new seeds will push a notification to the Mac App Store in addition to Apple's traditional email heads-up, which should make it easier on developers moving forward.</p><h3>Is Microsoft's Surface Already a Flop?</h3><p><a href="http://allthingsd.com/20121205/lack-of-distribution-is-killing-surface/" target="_blank">AllThingsD is reporting</a> that Microsoft's Surface with Windows RT may be a flop only weeks after its debut, with Boston-based brokerage firm Detwiler Fenton claiming the company is "likely to sell just 500,000 to 600,000" in the last three months of this year, a steep drop from the company's expectations of one to two million -- especially if they have manufactured three to five million, as widely reported. So what's to blame aside from lack of consumer interest? The firm blames it on a "lack of distribution," which is putting it mildly, given that Surface is only available at Microsoft Stores. However, the "mixed reviews" and iPad-matching price point "certainly don't help" either.</p><h3>Zite 2.0 Introduces Complete Redesign</h3><p>Popular news aggregator Zite is back this week with <a href="http://blog.zite.com/2012/12/04/introducing-zite-2-0/" target="_blank">an all-new version 2.0 of its free, universal iOS app</a>. The app is now smarter than before, serving up 40,000 different topics across every type of interest. Because of this, the Top Stories category now offers even more of what you love, all with a fresh coat of paint on top of it. Categories can now be reordered to your liking, and new Facebook integration can even pull interests based on your history with the social network. The new app is centered on discovery, and the first thing users will discover is a completely new icon featuring a cartoon owl as the app's new mascot. Zite 2.0 is now available from the App Store, and the company is promising updates for its other supported platforms next year.</p><h3>Walt Mossberg Claims iTunes Update Will Restore Missing Features</h3><p>The grand old man of Apple reviews, AllThingsD's Walt Mossberg, <a href="http://allthingsd.com/20121204/itunes-gets-an-upgrade-without-missing-a-beat/" target="_blank">has weighed in on iTunes 11 this week</a>, and he had largely praise for Cupertino's latest version. However, sandwich into his "Drawbacks" section is a little tidbit where Mossberg notes that "a feature that finds duplicate entries is missing," which has raised the ire of other longtime users as well. The good news is what comes next, as Mossberg notes, "Apple says it will soon be restored in a minor update of the program," which will also fix a bug causing some album covers to go missing while in album view.</p><h3>MacPhun Offers Free Cartoonatic Christmas Photo App</h3><p>Thanks to timeless classics like Charlie Brown, cartoons and Christmas go together like peanut butter and jelly. Seizing on this trend, the folks at MacPhun have released an update to their newly-free <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/cartoonatic/id420905479?mt=8" target="_blank">Cartoonatic Christmas</a> app for the iPhone. Featuring 10 cartoon filters and nine soundtracks for your animated masterpieces, Cartoonatic Christmas also offers a 99-cent Premium version available as an in-app purchase -- but absolutely free for owners of the company's ColorStrokes app -- which adds three additional cartoon filters and no ads. Cartoonatic Christmas 3.1 is now available from the App Store. <br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_os_x_betas_now_mac_app_store_surface_flops_zite_20#commentsNewsApp StoreChristmasDevelopersfree appsitunes 11Microsoft SurfaceOS X Mountain Lionovernight recapZiteiPadMacThu, 06 Dec 2012 13:32:56 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15740 at http://www.maclife.comWednesday Recap: Sparrow 1.1, My Passport Studio, Regional iPhone Carriershttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/wednesday_recap_sparrow_11_my_passport_studio_regional_iphone_carriers
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/wd_my_passport_studio_2tb_200px.png" alt="WD My Passport Studio 2TB" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Now that the iPhone has landed on three of the four major U.S. wireless carriers, Apple appears to be painting the nooks and crannies with an April 20 rollout at a number of small regional carriers who are almost entirely connected to the older CDMA technology being gradually abandoned by Verizon and Sprint. If you live in those areas, you’ll probably get a better deal, so it’s worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new iPhone. No need to thank us for that sound advice -- just show your appreciation by reading the news for Wednesday, April 4, 2012 instead.</p><h3>Sparrow 1.1 Arrives, Push Email Coming “With or Without Apple”</h3><p>Mobile email lovers, the first update to Sparrow for iOS has arrived! <a href="http://blog.sparrowmailapp.com/post/20467994892/sparrow11?ac33ffc0" target="_blank">The news was announced on the company’s blog earlier today</a>, and Sparrow 1.1 arrives with the addition of send and archive, the ability to show or hide dock badges for each account, showing only specific folders or labels, a built-in web browser and new empty trash/spam options. The first update also includes bug fixes for authentication with some Google Apps accounts and custom SMTP for Alias -- but sadly, push email is still MIA. That said, the developers are teasing the forthcoming Sparrow 1.2, claiming they are “confident that Apple might revise its position on the Push API.” The blog post also promised: “Push is coming. With or without Apple,” but this has since been changed to a less confrontational “If Apple can’t help us yet, we have other ideas.”&nbsp; Here’s hoping they’ll also kill those nagging Deleted Messages and Sent Messages folders that the app keeps adding to our iCloud email -- we roll with Trash and Sent folders here, homey.</p><h3>Zite Announces Publisher Progam, 8 Partners on Board</h3><p>One of our favorite reading apps for iOS is Zite, which recently leapt from the iPad to the iPhone and iPod touch as well thanks to a universal build update. Today, <a href="http://blog.zite.com/2012/04/zite-announces-zite-publisher-program.html" target="_blank">Zite is announcing eight new publishing partners who will be joining the app</a> and available as featured sections. <a href="http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/zite-announces-the-zite-publisher-program-1640482.htm" target="_blank">The launch is part of the new Zite Publisher Program initiative</a>, which breaks out each publisher’s content into its own featured section inside the app while providing an optimized mobile reading experience with advertising upsell opportunities. Launching today are featured sections for Bleacher Report, CNN, The Daily Beast, FOX Sports, HLNtv, The Huffington Post, Motley Fool, The Next Web and VentureBeat; the additions are pushed to the existing app so no update is required from the App Store (a shame, since Zite is one of the few reading apps that hasn’t yet been updated for the new iPad’s Retina Display). The ultimate goal of the Zite Publisher Program is to entice additional publishers to climb on board, and the company has published a page to their website with all of the details.</p><h3>Western Digital Beefs Up with 2TB My Passport Studio for Mac</h3><p>Mac users can generally use most any portable hard drive on the market, although manufacturers often focus on PC users when it comes to marketing. Western Digital has never been shy about its love for the Mac, and <a href="http://wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=420" target="_blank">this week is announcing My Passport Studio</a>, the first portable 2TB hard drive for those of us who choose Apple. Featuring an elegant, all-metal casing that complements the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, My Passport Studio is Time Machine compatible and includes a pair of FireWire 800 ports as well as USB 2.0. The Western Digital My Passport Studio 2TB portable hard drive retails for $299.99 and is available from the company’s online store as well as other fine retailers.</p><h3>A Handful of Other Regional Carriers Also Get iPhone 4S on April 20</h3><p>This morning we announced the iPhone 4S (and iPhone 4) would be coming to Virginia-based regional CDMA carrier nTelos Wireless, and good for them for getting their press release out early. As it turns out, nTelos stole the thunder of a handful of other regional carriers, <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/04/broad-rollout-of-cdma-iphone-to-small-u-s-carriers-coming-on-april-20/" target="_blank">with MacRumors reporting</a> that Alaska’s GCI and Alaska Communications, Kentucky’s Appalachian Wireless and Wisconsin’s Cellcom will be joining the party on April 20. Judging from this activity, the website claims this could be “a rather significant coordinated rollout to small CDMA carriers,” although Alaska’s GCI is actually one of those rare carriers whose network includes both GSM and CDMA technology. MacRumors was able to confirm that GCI will be introducing GSM models of the iPhone 4S, as well as the older iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. If you’ve spotted any other regional carriers about to uncork the champagne on April 20, give us a shout in the comments!</p><h3>Pocket God Fans Get New Updates to Comic, Game Apps</h3><p>Ape Entertainment and Bolt Creative are hitting the App Store running today with a pair of Pocket God-related updates for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. First up is <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-god-comics/id380752345?mt=8" target="_blank">Pocket God Comics No. 15</a>, the first in a new four-part story arc called “Gem Cell Research” which finds both tribes finally making it back to the girls’ island. “However, the pink elephant in the room remains,” the app description teases. “Just how long the boys will stay there is a matter of contention.” Meanwhile, the original Pocket God game that spawned the comic has also been refreshed with <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-god/id301387274?mt=8" target="_blank">Episode 44: The Perfect Swarm</a>. “What’s that buzzing noise? Is that a low-hanging cloud coming in? Oh, it’s just a plague of locusts descending on the Pygmies of Pocket God!” the app explains. “The Aztec calendar on Apocalypse Island continues to count down in Pocket God Episode 44: The Perfect Swarm, opening a new room in the island’s temple that houses the plague’s source - the locust queen!” Both updates are now available in the App Store, and each app costs 99 cents.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/wednesday_recap_sparrow_11_my_passport_studio_regional_iphone_carriers#commentsNewsApp Storecarriersdaily recapiPhone 4SPocket Godportable hard drivesregionalsparrowWestern DigitalZiteiPhoneMacWed, 04 Apr 2012 22:25:26 +0000J.R. Bookwalter13736 at http://www.maclife.comFriday Recap: webOS Goes Open Source, AccountEdge 2012, Spotify Radiohttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/friday_recap_webos_goes_open_source_accountedge_2012_spotify_radio
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/italk_arthur_christmas_200px.png" alt="iTalk Santa, Arthur Christmas" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />It’s been an interesting week in the tech world, particularly for fans of “personalized reader” apps who now have a trio of solid choices that work on screens small and large (thanks to the new Google Currents and both Zite and Flipboard going universal on the iPhone). Hey, maybe you’re even reading this right now from your Currents app -- if so, you probably want to get on with the day’s news, so here’s the best and brightest from Friday, December 9, 2011.</p><h3>webOS Uses Up Another of Its Nine Lives, Going Open Source</h3><p>After much debate about what it will do with the webOS technology they acquired from Palm, <a href="http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2011/111209xa.html?mtxs=rss-corp-news" target="_blank">HP today announced that the mobile operating system was being gifted to the open source community</a>, just in time for the holidays. HP president and CEO Meg Whitman promises that the company will remain “active in the development and support of webOS,” and the goal here is to accelerate development without HP having to sink big bucks into the platform. <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/9/2624209/meg-whitman-marc-andreessen-web-os-open-source-interview" target="_blank">According to The Verge</a>, Whitman even promises new webOS hardware down the road, with tablets specifically mentioned for “the near term” (2013 and beyond). Unfortunately, the CEO bummed out Palm lovers everywhere by stating, “I do not believe we will be in the smartphone business again.” Sad to hear, but open sourcing webOS could be the best way for it to survive and possibly even flourish against the similarly open-sourced Android and even Apple’s closed iOS. HP, we applaud you!</p><h3>AccountEdge 2012 Released with New Command Center</h3><p>Mac users with small business accounting needs: It’s that time of year again! <a href="http://www.accountedge.com/mac/pro/features/" target="_blank">Acclivity has just announced the availability of AccountEdge 2012</a>, which comes packing a new command center, quick access Side Bar and a new welcome window in addition to the ability to restore company files, track auto mileage, create multiple billing rates, streamline invoicing and plenty more. The new version is available now, priced at $299 for new users or $159 for an upgrade.</p><h3>Readdle Introduces Redesigned Printer Pro 3, Zite Goes Universal</h3><p>Two of the iPad’s coolest apps got updates today -- first and foremost, “personalized magazine” <a href="http://blog.zite.com/2011/12/zite-puts-power-of-personalization-on.html" target="_blank">Zite follows in the footsteps of Flipboard earlier this week</a> by <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fzite-personalized-magazine%252Fid419752338%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&quot; target=&quot;itunes_store&quot;&gt;Zite Personalized Magazine" target="_blank">downsizing for the iPhone with version 1.3</a>. Now, Zite users can log in to their free account created on the iPad and have all of their synced content ready and waiting for them on the iPhone or iPod touch as well. The free update is available from the App Store.<br /><br />Readdle has also been busy with their Printer Pro app, which just hit version 3 this week. Available for either the <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fprinter-pro%252Fid393313223%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30%22%20target=%22itunes_store%22%3EPrinter%20Pro" target="_blank">iPad ($6.99)</a> or <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fprinter-pro-for-iphone%252Fid410011612%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30%22%20target=%22itunes_store%22%3EPrinter%20Pro%20for%20iPhone" target="_blank">iPhone/iPod touch ($4.99)</a>, the app features a completely redesigned user interface along with a new Printer Setup Wizard to make things quick and easy when getting started. Microsoft Office documents are now printed with proper page detection and content alignment, and all know bugs and crashes have been squashed.</p><h3>iTalk Santa, Arthur Christmas Lets You Play Santa or Arthur</h3><p>zuuka is back with a holiday treat in the form of the new <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fitalk-santa-arthur-christmas%252Fid482143618%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&quot; target=&quot;itunes_store&quot;&gt;iTalk Santa, Arthur Christmas" target="_blank">iTalk Santa, Arthur Christmas</a> app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Now available in the App Store for only 99 cents, the app is based on the new feature film Arthur Christmas from Sony and allows users to “have fun creating and recording videos of Santa and Arthur saying and doing” just about anything you’d like. Users can even record short videos of their interaction with Santa or Arthur and save or share them to YouTube, Facebook or your device. The app is just the latest in the full line of iTalk apps from the creators of the iStoryTime series and is sure to light up your holiday season.</p><h3>Spotify Radio Takes On Pandora</h3><p>Pandora, look out: Spotify is on a roll, and you’re clearly in their sights! <a href="http://www.spotify.com/us/blog/archives/2011/12/09/discover-the-new-spotify-radio/" target="_blank">The streaming music service today announced a new experience for Spotify Radio</a>, featuring unlimited stations and unlimited skips. “You can be the DJ and skip between stations and tracks, or choose a station and just go with the flow,” the Spotify blog explains. “If you like what you hear, you can save the song to a playlist or play it again on demand.” The unique radio experience is available now with a new preview version which can be downloaded from the company’s website.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/friday_recap_webos_goes_open_source_accountedge_2012_spotify_radio#commentsNewsAccountEdgeaccountingdaily recapHPiTalkopen sourcePrinter ProRadioreaddleSpotifywebOSZiteiPhoneMacFri, 09 Dec 2011 22:25:23 +0000J.R. Bookwalter12920 at http://www.maclife.comEditions By AOL Jumps Into Crowded iPad Personalized Magazine Markethttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/editions_aol_jumps_crowded_ipad_personalized_magazine_market
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/editions_by_aol_200px.jpg" alt="Editions by AOL" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />If you’re a fan of Flipboard or Zite, you’ll immediately understand the concept of Editions by AOL, a new iPad-only daily “magazine” personalized to your interests and presented in a decidedly sexy new way. But will that be enough for AOL’s new effort to stand out in this increasingly crowded market?<br /><br /><a href="http://editions.com/" target="_blank">AOL, Inc. has released</a> <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Feditions-by-aol%252Fid447687307%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&quot; target=&quot;itunes_store&quot;&gt;Editions by AOL" target="_blank">Editions by AOL</a>, billed as “a beautiful new daily magazine that reads you.” The idea will be familiar to iPad users who love apps such as Flipboard, Pulse or Zite -- select some of your interests and they’ll be presented in a clean, attractive manner on your tablet display.<br /><br />However, in the case of Editions by AOL, the idea is to create your own daily magazine, complete with slick graphics that cater exclusively to your interests. Many users find Flipboard overrated, Pulse not graphic enough and Zite occasionally too random, so those are clearly the users AOL hopes to attract with the free Editions app.<br /><br />The concept behind Editions by AOL is to create a new issue of a daily magazine customized to your interests, every day. Users can choose what time of day to have the magazine “delivered” via push notification, so the experience is a bit more like subscribing to <em>The Daily</em> (without the weekly fee), but knowing in advance that most of the content will be of interest to you. If you want to see more or less of a given website or category, simply tap the appropriate buttons on screen and next time Editions will adjust to those new settings.<br /><br />One big advantage Editions by AOL has is that it taps into your local news and weather -- simply by entering your zip code, you’ll receive all the breaking news from your own neck of the woods, with the company touts as a first for iPad magazines. Users can also connect via Facebook (as well as Twitter and AOL) and sync your calendar with Editions to quickly see at a glance what your day looks like, including the birthdays of family and friends.<br /><br />If you’re bored with the current crop of iPad magazines or looking for something a little more customizable, <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Feditions-by-aol%252Fid447687307%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&quot; target=&quot;itunes_store&quot;&gt;Editions by AOL" target="_blank">Editions by AOL</a> is worth a look. The 18.1MB download is compatible with all iPads running iOS 4.0 or later and available from the App Store now.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/editions_aol_jumps_crowded_ipad_personalized_magazine_market#commentsNewsAOLAppLifeAppscalendarsEditions by AOLFlipboardiPadlocalmagazinesNew & NoteworthynewsPulseThe DailyZiteiPadWed, 03 Aug 2011 13:15:08 +0000J.R. Bookwalter11918 at http://www.maclife.comiPad News Reader Zite Gets Tag-Teamed with Cease and Desist Letterhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/ipad_news_reader_zite_gets_tagteamed_cease_and_desist_letter
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/zite_app_200px.jpg" alt="Zite app" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />If you haven’t heard of the iPad-only app Zite, chances are you will soon. Billed as “a personalized magazine for your iPad,” the app is quickly gaining popularity with users of similar apps like Flipboard and Pulse -- as well as drawing the same kind of unwanted attention from content providers.<br /><br /><a href="http://kara.allthingsd.com/20110330/when-media-giants-attack-cease-and-desist-letter-to-news-reader-zite/" target="_blank">All Things Digital’s BoomTown is reporting</a> that iPad app developer Zite, Inc. is already facing a mountain of legal hurt, receiving a cease and desist letter on Wednesday from “a panoply” of media giants, including <em>The Washington Post</em>, Associated Press, Gannett, Getty Images, Time and Dow Jones.<br /><br />So what’s the problem? Like Flipboard and Pulse before them, the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zite/id419752338?mt=8" target="_blank">Zite</a> app pulls content from RSS feeds (as well as Twitter tweets and follows), but rather than simply displaying the content in a magazine-style format, Zite actually gets smarter as you use it, pulling in new content based on what you like and retracting content that you don’t.<br /><br />The free iPad-only app has quickly become a favorite for many users, particularly those previously in love with Flipboard and Pulse. But like those apps, the Zite developers have found themselves in a legal pickle with content publishers, who claim the app is violating copyright laws.<br /><br />“The Zite application is plainly unlawful,” claimed the group cease and desist letter sent to Zite CEO Ali Davar, which noted a laundry list of supposed copyright violations.<br /><br />The problem appears to stem from Zite’s ability to strip away unwanted elements -- such as the advertising these media giants count on to make a profit -- presenting articles in a clean, magazine-style format that’s clutter-free. But apparently that won’t be the case for much longer, as Zite CEO Davar told BoomTown that the company plans to shift content from these publishers to a web-only view to sidestep the legal issues.<br /><br />“It’s a bummer that they did this, but we expected it,” Davar said. “Zite’s goal is to work with publishers, not to be antagonistic. The few publishers that have contacted us regarding the reading mode view we have complied with their requests and simply switched over to web view. We’re talking to publishers right now to find a win-win for them monetarily and to at the same time preserve the great user experience.”<br /><br />If you haven’t checked out <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zite/id419752338?mt=8" target="_blank">Zite</a> yet, the free iPad app is ready and waiting for you in App Store -- for now.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/ipad_news_reader_zite_gets_tagteamed_cease_and_desist_letter#commentsNewscontentFlipboardLegalmagazinenews readersPulseRSS readerZiteiPadThu, 31 Mar 2011 13:21:21 +0000J.R. Bookwalter10505 at http://www.maclife.com